White 57%Asian 4%Black 20%Hispanic 18%Indian 1%IL State Board of Education (2004-2005) . .In an attempt to avoid white panic I have hidden state averages in white fonts. Use your mouse to select the hidden text above this paragraph, and reveal how much whiter your child's Springfield, Illinois area high school is compared with the Illinois state average. . NCES Table - America Less White Than Springfield's White Flight Schools

....Parents of children attending schools listed above take heart, for while there are non white children attending your children's high school, there's little mixing with the lower classes. . Calvary Academy appears to be the most racially diverse "white flight" school in the Springfield, Illinois area, but it also has the highest tuition of any school in Springfield... ..Learn More About WhiteFlight Here.....\.Video under copyright (not mine) Flock of Seagulls.

Friday, January 12, 2007

UPDATE: This morning's State Journal-Register ran an article reporting that Kerasote's Theaters will run Stomp the Yard in Springfield, Illinois after all.

The "R word" is such an easy weapon to use against another person, or an organization. It's far harder to defend yourself against it than it is to toss it at someone. Remove the pin, count to three, toss, and watch the reputations fly into tatters.. .No One Is Perfect - Believe It or Not

It is my belief that no one living in a multi racial society, such as the United States, is immune to racism at some level or another. Even the most committed advocates of racial equality are infected with the disease of racism.

One all too common spectacle, which I find particularly disturbing, occurs when a public figure gets drunk, high, angry, or just plain dumb, and employs a racist word, or phrase. Not only is it sad to see these celebrities make fools of themselves, but it's sadder still to watch the packs of hypocrites descend like jackals to get their pound of flesh. People act so shocked, and inevitably ask, how could that good person say something like that? In the words of Jesus, no Man is good - believe it, or not!..Racism Endemic to Multi Racial Societies

I haven't met one person black, white, brown, or whatever who isn't a racist at some level. I have found that the biggest racist are those who claim that they are not racist. We are all infected with this horrible disease. Human beings are irrational, and lazy, creatures who seek to simplify their lives through the use "isms" - including racism.

One day in the not too distant future after all the races have intermarried, and that day will come, the concept of race will only exist as a word in a history book. People living in that time will surely look back at the people living in this time with wonder.

There are so many excuses to oppress, kill, exploit, steal from, demoralize, and generally harm each other. We don't need race as an excuse to treat each other horribly!

As You Judge So Shall You Be Judged

Was Anthony Kerasotes decision not to show "Stomp the Yard" based upon racism? We'll never know for sure, but to accuse him of being a racist doesn't solve anything. It is unfair, and hypocritical to judge him without the facts to do so. Want to see a racist then go look in the mirror before judging someone without knowing the facts first.

One thing that we could do is to study the Kerasotes track record with respect to other movies that predominantly feature African Americans actors. Has this theater chain ever skipped over other movies which employed African American actors, or focused on story lines which dealt with African American culture? I can't really recall any prior accusations of this happening.

Perhaps this show is just the first in which Anthony Kerasotes alleged racist nature is being exposed, but that doesn't seem to make much sense does it? We have to ask ourselves why now? Tony Kerasotes has had plenty of opportunity to discriminate earlier, so why would he only begin now? I just don't see it...Rocky Horror Picture Show - The Criminologist..

Great Scott!

Years ago. when The Rocky Horror Picture Show was played regularly in a Kerasotes theater in town, the good natured transexual transvestite audiences (from Transylvania) would toss rolls of toilet tissue at the movie screen when a character in the movie would say, "Great Scott!"

It used to drive the theater owners crazy. They would send matrons down the isles with flashlights, and identify those who would throw the rolls of toilet paper at the screen. They would then toss those people out of the theater, and with good reason considering how expensive those movie screens were - we're talking about when movie screens were very big compared to the dinky ones they use today.

As a teenager I thought the theater was overreacting, but as an adult I can see how a simple act of tossing a roll of toilet paper could cost the theater tens of thousand's of dollars. In one simple act of stupidity all of the profits which could ever be made showing that one movie would be overcome by the cost of repairing the screen... Network's Howard Beal Is As Mad As Hell

I'm Mad As Hell and I'm Not Going Take It Anymore!

Similarly back in the late 1970's an excellent movie called Network included a scene in which a main character implores his television program audience to run to their doors, and windows, and shout out "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!", this inspired people in the movie theater to stand up and scream that they were mad as hell, and that they weren't going to take it anymore.

Kerasotes theater matrons would run out at precisely that moment in the film, and try to get people to sit down, and shut up. It was a most pathetic display of squareness on their part, but their understanding of audience mentality was right. People don't generally go to a movie to listen to other members of the audience shout - actually it was kind of fun!

The point of all of this is that over the decades Kerasotes Theaters has always trended toward preserving the sanctity of a quiet, and safe movie theater.

While I sincerely doubt that there are any such scenes in "Stomp the Yard", we have to keep an open mind, and consider just what the movie chain owners fear could take place before, during, and after the showing of "Stomp the Yard". Is Anthony Kerasote's concern for his employee's, and customers racist? I just don't see it...What Would We Do?

In light of recent gang related violence outside one of their movie theaters in Springfield, Illinois isn't it possible that Kerasotes simply took the most conservative path toward keeping their audiences safe? Must this decision be portrayed as yet another unkind act? . In the end Kerasotes Theaters has both the right, and responsibility, to keep their theaters, employees, and audiences safe. We can rush to judge them for being racist for this one decision not to run this one movie, but judging them doesn't serve the community well when we fail to focus on the underlying causes.

We as a society need to address the issues of gangs, violence, poverty, drugs, education, and unemployment. Only in so doing will we create a society in which no one, of any race, will ever need to fear becoming the victim of senseless violence.

If we believe that Anthony Kerasotes is uninformed, then let's approach him respectfully, and provide him with our point of view. If we believe he has in some way harmed society by acting in a unintentionally racist way then let's encourage him to act boldly to make amends in some constructive way - instead of just labeling him a racist...Finding Common Ground

Perhaps Ken Page, president of Springfield's NAACP, could meet with Tony Kerasotes, and they could discuss their concerns, and come to some mutual understanding? That's what I'd like to see, and there's no reason it couldn't be done.

The new strategy I outline tonight will change America's course in Iraq, and help us succeed in the fight against terror.

More troops, and more time - there's nothing new about this strategy.

When I addressed you just over a year ago, nearly 12 million Iraqis had cast their ballots for a unified and democratic nation. The elections of 2005 were a stunning achievement... Image: Sufaya Oil Fields

Actually people voted so that the U.S. would leave.

We thought that these elections would bring the Iraqis together, and that as we trained Iraqi security forces we could accomplish our mission with fewer American troops.

There are practically no trustworthy Iraqi security forces in Iraq.

But in 2006, the opposite happened. The violence in Iraq -- particularly in Baghdad -- overwhelmed the political gains the Iraqis had made. Al Qaeda terrorists and Sunni insurgents recognized the mortal danger that Iraq's elections posed for their cause, and they responded with outrageous acts of murder aimed at innocent Iraqis. They blew up one of the holiest shrines in Shia Islam -- the Golden Mosque of Samarra -- in a calculated effort to provoke Iraq's Shia population to retaliate. Their strategy worked. Radical Shia elements, some supported by Iran, formed death squads. And the result was a vicious cycle of sectarian violence that continues today.

The beginning of the Iraqi civil war.

The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people -- and it is unacceptable to me. Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely. They have done everything we have asked them to do. Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.

Great, now ask Dick Cheney to resign, and then you resign.

It is clear that we need to change our strategy in Iraq. So my national security team, military commanders, and diplomats conducted a comprehensive review. We consulted members of Congress from both parties, our allies abroad, and distinguished outside experts. We benefitted from the thoughtful recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton. In our discussions, we all agreed that there is no magic formula for success in Iraq. And one message came through loud and clear: Failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States.

Of course the White House won't take the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. Also note, how the White House has misspelled benefitted? I guess if it was a benefit raising money for Bush they'd figure out how to spell the word right?. .US Troops Guarding Iraqi Oil Pipelines

The consequences of failure are clear: Radical Islamic extremists would grow in strength and gain new recruits. They would be in a better position to topple moderate governments, create chaos in the region, and use oil revenues to fund their ambitions.

So just how did the terrible state of affairs come to be? Oh yes, you invaded Iraq!..The U.S. is Addicted to Imported Oil

Iran would be emboldened in its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

They never seriously considered nuclear weapons until you called them evil, and have made ominous warnings similar to the one's made prior to the Iraq invasion.

Our enemies would have a safe haven from which to plan and launch attacks on the American people.

Would any tell me how many of the 9-11 hijackers were Saudi Arabians? Why didn't we invade Saudi Arabia? Oh that's right, because your father, and you are beholden to the Saudi regime which made you a millionaire before you ran for Governor of Texas.

On September the 11th, 2001, we saw what a refuge for extremists on the other side of the world could bring to the streets of our own cities. For the safety of our people, America must succeed in Iraq.

Same lies as before the Iraq invasion - if he can just keep telling people that there is a link between Iraq, and 9-11 maybe people will believe again.

The most urgent priority for success in Iraq is security, especially in Baghdad. Eighty percent of Iraq's sectarian violence occurs within 30 miles of the capital. This violence is splitting Baghdad into sectarian enclaves, and shaking the confidence of all Iraqis. Only Iraqis can end the sectarian violence and secure their people.

Maybe we could build a cement wall around Baghdad? Something like the Green Zone, that would make everyone feel safe at night.

And their government has put forward an aggressive plan to do it.

I'm so excited! The Iraqi government has a plan! Kill more American soldiers, waste more American tax dollars - and this time it won't be Bush's plan, it will be the Iraqi government's plan! Bush is a master manipulator.

Our past efforts to secure Baghdad failed for two principal reasons: There were not enough Iraqi and American troops to secure neighborhoods that had been cleared of terrorists and insurgents.

But for years you've been saying you had every confidence in your former Secretary of Defense. So just when did you figure out that things weren't going so well?

And there were too many restrictions on the troops we did have.

Too many restrictions? Kind of vague here isn't he? It's why he sacked the top general in Iraq last week. He's blaming the military leadership here for his political mistake! Anyone remember how the NAZI party portrayed Germany's defeat after WWI? It wasn't the German politician's fault! No Germany would have won WWI if it hadn't been for the Generals. Bush is positively Hitler like here - go on Mr. President!

Our military commanders reviewed the new Iraqi plan to ensure that it addressed these mistakes. They report that it does. They also report that this plan can work.

Yes, and pigs can fly if they have wings...Wasting Gasoline - The American Dream..Now let me explain the main elements of this effort: The Iraqi government will appoint a military commander and two deputy commanders for their capital. The Iraqi government will deploy Iraqi Army and National Police brigades across Baghdad's nine districts. When these forces are fully deployed, there will be 18 Iraqi Army and National Police brigades committed to this effort, along with local police. These Iraqi forces will operate from local police stations -- conducting patrols and setting up checkpoints, and going door-to-door to gain the trust of Baghdad residents.

That would be Shiite in Shiite areas, and Sunni in Sunni areas? Which means that the paramilitary groups not only won't be giving up their weapons, but that those doing the policing will actually be members of the paramilitary groups! Which is no change from what is already taking place.

This is a strong commitment. But for it to succeed, our commanders say the Iraqis will need our help. So America will change our strategy to help the Iraqis carry out their campaign to put down sectarian violence and bring security to the people of Baghdad. This will require increasing American force levels. So I've committed more than 20,000 additional American troops to Iraq. The vast majority of them -- five brigades -- will be deployed to Baghdad. These troops will work alongside Iraqi units and be embedded in their formations. Our troops will have a well-defined mission: to help Iraqis clear and secure neighborhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs.

And the U.S. troops won't be fired upon by members of the Iraqi units? There won't be ambushes based upon information passed to Iraqi paramilitary units which will kill more U.S. troops? Our guys, and theirs will work hand in hand bringing a lasting peace to Iraq? You really believe this?

Many listening tonight will ask why this effort will succeed when previous operations to secure Baghdad did not. Well, here are the differences: In earlier operations, Iraqi and American forces cleared many neighborhoods of terrorists and insurgents, but when our forces moved on to other targets, the killers returned. This time, we'll have the force levels we need to hold the areas that have been cleared.

That's a total lie. Twenty thousand additional troops isn't enough to maintain presence in neighborhoods of Baghdad, and if that is all it would have taken, then why hadn't we done it years ago, or why didn't we train twenty thousand Iraqi soldiers to do it?

In earlier operations, political and sectarian interference prevented Iraqi and American forces from going into neighborhoods that are home to those fueling the sectarian violence. This time, Iraqi and American forces will have a green light to enter those neighborhoods -- and Prime Minister Maliki has pledged that political or sectarian interference will not be tolerated.

Like Falluja? Are we going to wipe out whole areas of Baghdad? Will that win the hearts, and minds of the people - for democracy, and the American way?

I've made it clear to the Prime Minister and Iraq's other leaders that America's commitment is not open-ended.

Yes, it will take several years after you're no longer in office to get the troops out of Iraq. We know they won't be leaving for as long as your President.

If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises, it will lose the support of the American people -- and it will lose the support of the Iraqi people.

Tough words Mr. President, now we should blame the fragile Iraqi regime for the U.S. invasion, and the destruction of Iraq.

Now is the time to act. The Prime Minister understands this. Here is what he told his people just last week: "The Baghdad security plan will not provide a safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of [their] sectarian or political affiliation."

This new strategy will not yield an immediate end to suicide bombings, assassinations, or IED attacks. Our enemies in Iraq will make every effort to ensure that our television screens are filled with images of death and suffering. Yet over time, we can expect to see Iraqi troops chasing down murderers, fewer brazen acts of terror, and growing trust and cooperation from Baghdad's residents. When this happens, daily life will improve, Iraqis will gain confidence in their leaders, and the government will have the breathing space it needs to make progress in other critical areas. Most of Iraq's Sunni and Shia want to live together in peace -- and reducing the violence in Baghdad will help make reconciliation possible.

And everyone will forget all about the thousands of people killed, lion will lay down with lamb, and a new era of love, and cooperation will begin.

A successful strategy for Iraq goes beyond military operations. Ordinary Iraqi citizens must see that military operations are accompanied by visible improvements in their neighborhoods and communities. So America will hold the Iraqi government to the benchmarks it has announced.

To establish its authority, the Iraqi government plans to take responsibility for security in all of Iraq's provinces by November.

So the testing period begins in November of 2007?

To give every Iraqi citizen a stake in the country's economy, Iraq will pass legislation to share oil revenues among all Iraqis.

Now Mr. President, are you telling the freely elected government of Iraq what legislation to pass? Also, what about the U.S. oil companies which have moved into Iraq - aren't they going to get twenty percent of the profits on all that oil?

To show that it is committed to delivering a better life, the Iraqi government will spend $10 billion of its own money on reconstruction and infrastructure projects that will create new jobs.

Just where is the Iraqi government going to get this ten billion dollars Mr. President?

To empower local leaders, Iraqis plan to hold provincial elections later this year. And to allow more Iraqis to re-enter their nation's political life, the government will reform de-Baathification laws, and establish a fair process for considering amendments to Iraq's constitution.

Again, that's the President of the U.S. telling the freely elected government of Iraq what laws it must pass. And I thought Iraq government was more than just a puppet regime.

America will change our approach to help the Iraqi government as it works to meet these benchmarks. In keeping with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, we will increase the embedding of American advisers in Iraqi Army units, and partner a coalition brigade with every Iraqi Army division. We will help the Iraqis build a larger and better-equipped army, and we will accelerate the training of Iraqi forces, which remains the essential U.S. security mission in Iraq. We will give our commanders and civilians greater flexibility to spend funds for economic assistance. We will double the number of provincial reconstruction teams. These teams bring together military and civilian experts to help local Iraqi communities pursue reconciliation, strengthen the moderates, and speed the transition to Iraqi self-reliance. And Secretary Rice will soon appoint a reconstruction coordinator in Baghdad to ensure better results for economic assistance being spent in Iraq.

All great, but what took so damned long? If this type of planning had been done in the year leading up to the war - and we had a year - we might have been out of Iraq by now. It wasn't the fault of the Generals you fired, it was your fault.

As we make these changes, we will continue to pursue al Qaeda and foreign fighters. Al Qaeda is still active in Iraq. Its home base is Anbar Province. Al Qaeda has helped make Anbar the most violent area of Iraq outside the capital. A captured al Qaeda document describes the terrorists' plan to infiltrate and seize control of the province. This would bring al Qaeda closer to its goals of taking down Iraq's democracy, building a radical Islamic empire, and launching new attacks on the United States at home and abroad.

Our military forces in Anbar are killing and capturing al Qaeda leaders, and they are protecting the local population. Recently, local tribal leaders have begun to show their willingness to take on al Qaeda. And as a result, our commanders believe we have an opportunity to deal a serious blow to the terrorists. So I have given orders to increase American forces in Anbar Province by 4,000 troops. These troops will work with Iraqi and tribal forces to keep up the pressure on the terrorists. America's men and women in uniform took away al Qaeda's safe haven in Afghanistan -- and we will not allow them to re-establish it in Iraq.

Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity and stabilizing the region in the face of extremist challenges. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We'll interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.

Mission Accomplished! No wait, we never secured the borders - but we will starting soon - just give us a few more years.

We're also taking other steps to bolster the security of Iraq and protect American interests in the Middle East. I recently ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region. We will expand intelligence-sharing and deploy Patriot air defense systems to reassure our friends and allies.

A little something for Israel.

We will work with the governments of Turkey and Iraq to help them resolve problems along their border.

A little something for the Kurds, and Turkey.

And we will work with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating the region.

Like invade Iran?

We will use America's full diplomatic resources to rally support for Iraq from nations throughout the Middle East. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf States need to understand that an American defeat in Iraq would create a new sanctuary for extremists and a strategic threat to their survival.

Notice how Bush puts Iran in the role of enemy? Notice how he doesn't like Syria, or Iran which are right on Iraq's border as nations we will engage in trying to resolve the Iraq problem? This is sheer madness. It will never work. You can not talk with Sunni governments, and not Iran!

These nations have a stake in a successful Iraq that is at peace with its neighbors, and they must step up their support for Iraq's unity government. We endorse the Iraqi government's call to finalize an International Compact that will bring new economic assistance in exchange for greater economic reform. And on Friday, Secretary Rice will leave for the region, to build support for Iraq and continue the urgent diplomacy required to help bring peace to the Middle East.

The challenge playing out across the broader Middle East is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of our time.

It's a region conflict between Shia, and Sunni - which you set in motion Mr. President!..PBS Image: The President's Speech Never Mentions Oil

On one side are those who believe in freedom and moderation. On the other side are extremists who kill the innocent, and have declared their intention to destroy our way of life.

It has nothing to do with freedom, and moderation. Saudi Arabia - a free, and moderate nation? How about Egypt is that nation free? He uses words to sell this to the American people, but it's based upon lies. And once again he is suggesting that if Shiites take over Iraq that their goal is to destroy "our" way of life. The Middle East will be out of cheap light crude oil within half a century, and it won't matter what they'll have to say then - this has to do with OIL!

In the long run, the most realistic way to protect the American people is to provide a hopeful alternative to the hateful ideology of the enemy, by advancing liberty across a troubled region. It is in the interests of the United States to stand with the brave men and women who are risking their lives to claim their freedom, and to help them as they work to raise up just and hopeful societies across the Middle East.

The enemy? If they're out enemies it is because you made them our enemies. Iraq wasn't overrun with terror cells before you invaded that nation without justification. Now that you've turned it into a haven you then tell us we must stay? After the civil war is over the governments there will payoff their extremist factions, and life will go on. We just won't have control over them, and that's what you can't stand. It's the OIL! Why can't you tell the truth Mr. President?Why can't the U.S. kick it's oil addiction? Because you are owned by oil interest, and you would never promote a path that leads this nation away from its dependence upon oil. That's why we need more troops in Iraq.

From Afghanistan to Lebanon to the Palestinian Territories, millions of ordinary people are sick of the violence, and want a future of peace and opportunity for their children. And they are looking at Iraq. They want to know: Will America withdraw and yield the future of that country to the extremists, or will we stand with the Iraqis who have made the choice for freedom?

They also wonder when will the US stop playing imperialist, and no longer occupy Iraq.

The changes I have outlined tonight are aimed at ensuring the survival of a young democracy that is fighting for its life in a part of the world of enormous importance to American security.

OIL - can you not say the word? OIL OIL OIL OIL OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me be clear: The terrorists and insurgents in Iraq are without conscience, and they will make the year ahead bloody and violent.

The year? So are we leaving in a year? Notice he didn't say years. No that's too open ended. But we'll be there years after he is no longer President, and he knows it. So why did he use the word year? Because he's a con man that's why.

Even if our new strategy works exactly as planned, deadly acts of violence will continue -- and we must expect more Iraqi and American casualties. The question is whether our new strategy will bring us closer to success. I believe that it will.

Well if you believe it Mr. President, it must surely have a chance? Maybe not a good one, but if we just send more troops we'll find out right?

Victory will not look like the ones our fathers and grandfathers achieved. There will be no surrender ceremony on the deck of a battleship. But victory in Iraq will bring something new in the Arab world -- a functioning democracy that polices its territory, upholds the rule of law, respects fundamental human liberties, and answers to its people.

Play on the people's love of freedom, and democracy Mr. President - you can't use the Weapons of Mass Destruction lies anymore.

A democratic Iraq will not be perfect. But it will be a country that fights terrorists instead of harboring them -- and it will help bring a future of peace and security for our children and our grandchildren.

Again Mr. President if there are terrorist in Iraq it's only because you destroyed the Iraqi regime. Now that you've broken it you're unable to deal with the consequences so you'll have our troops die until after you have left office, and then the inevitable will take place an Iraqi civil war, and an Iraqi regime that isn't a puppet of the US. Damn it we won't control the OIL!

This new approach comes after consultations with Congress about the different courses we could take in Iraq. Many are concerned that the Iraqis are becoming too dependent on the United States, and therefore, our policy should focus on protecting Iraq's borders and hunting down al Qaeda. Their solution is to scale back America's efforts in Baghdad -- or announce the phased withdrawal of our combat forces. We carefully considered these proposals. And we concluded that to step back now would force a collapse of the Iraqi government, tear the country apart, and result in mass killings on an unimaginable scale. Such a scenario would result in our troops being forced to stay in Iraq even longer, and confront an enemy that is even more lethal. If we increase our support at this crucial moment, and help the Iraqis break the current cycle of violence, we can hasten the day our troops begin coming home.

If we bring them home now, then they'll have to stay even longer? Right, and didn't you go to Yale?

In the days ahead, my national security team will fully brief Congress on our new strategy. If members have improvements that can be made, we will make them. If circumstances change, we will adjust. Honorable people have different views, and they will voice their criticisms. It is fair to hold our views up to scrutiny. And all involved have a responsibility to explain how the path they propose would be more likely to succeed.

Now that you no longer control Congress it's good that you have decided you can accept different views - because you're going to have to get used to them. Maybe you should check out some of your polling figures too?

Acting on the good advice of Senator Joe Lieberman and other key members of Congress, we will form a new, bipartisan working group that will help us come together across party lines to win the war on terror. This group will meet regularly with me and my administration; it will help strengthen our relationship with Congress. We can begin by working together to increase the size of the active Army and Marine Corps, so that America has the Armed Forces we need for the 21st century. We also need to examine ways to mobilize talented American civilians to deploy overseas, where they can help build democratic institutions in communities and nations recovering from war and tyranny.

Interesting isn't it? A direct reversal from the days of Rumsfeld. What a difference an election can make.

In these dangerous times, the United States is blessed to have extraordinary and selfless men and women willing to step forward and defend us. These young Americans understand that our cause in Iraq is noble and necessary -- and that the advance of freedom is the calling of our time. They serve far from their families, who make the quiet sacrifices of lonely holidays and empty chairs at the dinner table. They have watched their comrades give their lives to ensure our liberty. We mourn the loss of every fallen American -- and we owe it to them to build a future worthy of their sacrifice.

We support our troops Mr. President, we just don't support your war.

Fellow citizens: The year ahead will demand more patience, sacrifice, and resolve. It can be tempting to think that America can put aside the burdens of freedom. Yet times of testing reveal the character of a nation. And throughout our history, Americans have always defied the pessimists and seen our faith in freedom redeemed. Now America is engaged in a new struggle that will set the course for a new century. We can, and we will, prevail.

We can not force freedom, and American style democracy upon a people. These nations will eventually develop their own form of democracy from within - but this little oil war of yours is not a way to wins hearts, and minds for democracy in the Middle East.

We go forward with trust that the Author of Liberty will guide us through these trying hours. Thank you and good night.

NOTE: Oil is mentioned in the speech once, as something that we must keep out of the enemies hands as it would fund terrorism. It's o.k. to steal if it's for a good cause.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

The Pillars of Creation have reportedly been destroyed by a Supernova's shock wave! Only discovered by humans in 1995, the Pillars of Creation's magnificent beauty will still be available for viewing on Earth for another one thousand years - despite having been destroyed six thousand years ago.

Confused?

The following is an excerpt from an article (January 10 2007) by David Shiga, appearing in New Scientist:

Nicolas Flagey of the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale in Orsay, France, led a team that obtained the image (of the supernova). It shows a cloud of hot dust thought to have been heated by a supernova blast that likely occurred between 1000 and 2000 years earlier.

Based on the cloud's position, the blast wave looked set to hit the pillars in 1000 years. Taking into account the 7000-year time lag for their light to reach the Earth, that means the pillars were actually destroyed 6000 years ago, Flagey says.

We will not see their obliteration from Earth for another 1000 years, however. And when we do, they will be in tatters – Flagey says only a few patches of the pillars are dense enough to survive the blast. "All the other parts will crumble when the shock wave arrives," he says.

Speaking of Supernovas, the same year HST first imaged the "Pillars of Creation", British rock group Oasis hit the charts with Champagne Supernova...

Oasis: Champagne Supernova.How many special people changeHow many lives are living strangeWhere were you when we were getting high?Slowly walking down the hallFaster than a cannon ballWhere were you while we were getting high?Some day you will find meCaught beneath the landslideIn a champagne supernova in the skySome day you will find meCaught beneath the landslideIn a champagne supernovaA champagne supernova in the sky

Wake up the dawn and ask her whyA dreamer dreams she never diesWipe that tear away now from your eyeSlowly walking down the hallFaster than a cannon ballWhere were you when we were getting high?

Some day you will find meCaught beneath the landslideIn a champagne supernova in the skySome day you will find meCaught beneath the landslideIn a champagne supernovaA champagne supernova in the sky

Cos people believe that theyreGonna get away for the summerBut you and i, we live and dieThe worlds still spinning roundWe dont know whyWhy, why, why, why

How many special people changeHow many lives are living strangeWhere were you when we were getting high?Slowly walking down the hallFaster than a cannon ballWhere were you while we were getting high?

Some day you will find meCaught beneath the landslideIn a champagne supernova in the skySome day you will find meCaught beneath the landslideIn a champagne supernovaA champagne supernova in the sky

Cos people believe that theyreGonna get away for the summerBut you and i, we live and dieThe worlds still spinning roundWe dont know whyWhy, why, why, why

How many special people changeHow many lives are living strangeWhere were you when we were getting high?We were getting highWe were getting highWe were getting highWe were getting high.All lyrics, and video under copyright - by prospective owners (not me).

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

I'll admit it, I was doing forty five miles per hour as I often do on my daily drives to, and from work. Everything seemed fine until along comes "Speed Racer" flying down Macarthur like a bat out of hell!

I first noticed your radical driving in my rear view mirror just about where the McDonald's is. I guess I'm an aggressive driver because I deliberately slowed down just enough to box you in using the car to my left. Don't risk my life you moron!

The light at Ash brought everyone to a stop.

By the time the light changed to green, I decided I wanted to get home more than I wanted to play games with you, and so I brought my old clunker up to forty five, and let you out of the box.

You took the bait, and once again you darted dangerously in front of the car to my left. You then zoomed past me like I was standing still. I dropped back, and let you win your race.

I estimated that you were driving at between sixty five, to seventy five miles per hour when I saw you last zooming down Macarthur toward the Wabash intersection.. .I noticed your plates

Red late model Toyota Corolla with plates, "US 72 House", or maybe it was "House 72 Representatives" using a larger than normal bluish license plate.

You probably never get speeding tickets. The cops probably don't even stop you anymore.

I guess you figure that if you drive like that on the highway that it's acceptable to drive like that in Springfield, Illinois? You're probably right we're only voters. If you killed one of us the judge would give you a slap on the wrist, and then meet with you afterward at the country club for a round of golf...

Monday, January 08, 2007

Mother Jones - American Hero..Main Stream Media would never cover Mother Jones if she were alive today. Today, they'd call Mother Jones a nut, and put her in a chemical straight jacket, and wait until she lost her spark.

Mother Jones was a hell raiser. She cared about people - the working people. Today anyone who actually cares about working people are either ignored, or corrupted. If they can't be bought off, then they are frozen out of the loop.

The U.S. Congress, and the Executive Branch couldn't care less for the middle class, or the poor. Whether they call themselves Democrats, or Republicans it takes so much money to get elected, and then reelected, that those in office owe their souls to special interest before they've even stepped foot onto Capitol Hill, or into the White House.

Mother Jones, as an elderly woman, beat to death a man sent to kill her by a businessman. She was one tough woman, and she spent many a night in jails after being arrested for organizing labor unions. She could take the punishment that the man had to give her back in those "uncivilized" days.

In today's "civilized" American society the NSA would tap her phones, the FBI would infiltrate her organizations, and the Main Stream Media would destroy her reputation, or worse yet just ignore her. If she played ball, she'd be offered some graft, and she'd be forever in someone's debt who would never let loose of those strings which controlled her.

In modern America that's how it's done - death by a thousand paper cuts. Even a woman like Mother Jones would have a hard time battling that.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Several weeks ago I was informed Halverson Construction was in the process of installing the clocks on Union Station's Clock Tower. By the time I took the photos for this post the clocks were already installed...Closeup of Union Station Clock Tower with Newly Installed Clocks

I then missed deadline by only a few hours in submitting my material for Jerome Prophet's Springfield, and have held these photos for posting to my blog until after Illinois Times published the feature last Thursday January 4th, 2007.

In the meantime the SJ-R published an excellent article on the clock's installation, and several local Springfield, Illinois bloggers have posted many excellent photos of their own. I hesitated as to whether to post these photos at such a late date, but I felt they were too beautiful not to post.

Two things which I discovered interesting in my interview of the men who installed the clock, including Halverson site foreman, Joel Antonacci, was that they were surprised when I informed them that the clock's chimes could be heard several blocks away. It turns out that Union Station is so well constructed that the clock can not be heard from within the station itself.

Three clocks were installed in one day, on Friday December 8th, 2006, and the final clock was installed. Wednesday December 13th.

The setting of the clocks was understandably a group effort by Halverson's crew, with consultation from Electric Time the manufactures of the clocks. Electric Time is located in Medfield, Massachusetts.

Springfield, Illinois is lucky to have such a fine company as Halverson Construction located right here in Springfield, Illinois.

Everyone I've ever spoke to with Halverson Construction has been respectful, and generous of their time. They show utmost pride in what they have accomplished at Union Station, and in the Parking Garage just north of Union Station.

As soon as the project is complete I plan to post some photos I have taken from within Union Station during construction. Union Station is going to be such an incredible asset to the community once it opens again!